Simsbury's Danny Deitz Honored By Walter Camp Foundation

Heart transplant patient and Simsbury High School football player Danny Deitz returned to the football field this past season after surgery in 2015. On Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 he was honored by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Heart transplant patient and Simsbury High School football player Danny Deitz returned to the football field this past season after surgery in 2015. On Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 he was honored by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

WILLIAM PAXTONSpecial To The Courant

Danny Deitz should have seen his football career end two years ago when he received a heart transplant, but Saturday morning at the Omni Hotel it was like he never missed a beat.

The Simsbury High senior's long journey back from surgery in September 2015 at Boston Children's Hospital was rewarded by the Walter Camp Football Foundation with the UCAN Inspired Award.

Deitz, who was with his friends and family in the crowd for the breakfast banquet honoring the top high school football achievements of 2015, was one of just two award winners to receive a standing ovation when they took the stage. The other was Hillhouse's Reggie Lytle, who was named coach of the year after leading the Academics to a Class M state title.

"It was outstanding," said Deitz, who returned to football this past fall and even scored a touchdown in a Nov. 4 game against Enfield. "I didn't know I was getting this until last week and I was just blown away. It's amazing to see people, I don't know, it's just nice to receive any award.

"It's crazy I can be here. I never thought I'd be here for this reason. ... It's just unbelievable they gave me that award and I can help inspire kids. I hope I can reach out to people and get my message across."

Deitz was diagnosed with an enlarged heart in 2015, which was the result of a genetic mutation that caused the protein in his heart to attack itself. Even though he spent more than two months in a hospital room recovering from the transplant, Deitz always had football on his mind.

"My best friends were on the football field and my brothers were on the football field," Deitz told the crowd during his acceptance speech. "And that's where I wanted to be."

While playing football in college might not be in his future, Deitz hopes to continue his education at a school in California and also continue to spread the importance of being an organ donor. He also has the "Danny Strong" fund, which came about when he was going through his heart problem and now helps raise money to help save other childrens' lives.

"It was a lot of work and I had a lot of people there to get me here," he said. "It gives you a whole different outlook on life and not waste any time."

In addition to Deitz and Lytle being honored, the first and second All-Connecticut teams were announced along with Newtown senior Ben Mason being named the player of the year. Mason was a four-year starter at Newtown and will be going to Michigan to play football for Jim Harbaugh in the fall. Sheehan-Wallingford's Zach Davis and Notre Dame-West Haven's Nico Ragaini were the other finalists for top player.

Lytle, who won a state title at Hillhouse as a player in 1985, was one of three coaching finalists along with Darien's Rob Trifone and Rocky Hill's Mark Fritz.

"To have the coaches think that highly of our program is pretty special," said Fritz, who saw Rocky Hill finish 11-2 and fall in the Class M championship to Ansonia.

The four state champions: — Darien (Class LL), New Canaan (Class L), Hillhouse and Ansonia (Class S) — received plaques for their accomplishments and Darien also received The Joseph W. Kelly Award as the top team in the state.

"To get the team award two years in a row is real humbling," said Trifone, who had more than 20 players with him on stage when he accepted. "It's a testament not to me, but the people behind me."

Two former coaches from the West Hartford high school coaches received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the close of the ceremony. Conard's Bob McKee and Hall's Frank Robinson II were rivals on the field from 1957 to the early 1980s and friends off it.

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